Collapsible crate.



J. T. HENDRICK.

COLLAPSIBLE CRATE.

\ APPLICATION FILED AUG. 10. ran.

Patented Dec. 1O,v 1918.

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J. T. HENDRICK.

COLLAPSIBLE CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED AUGJO. lsn.

1,287,307. I Patented Dec. 10, 1918.

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ATTORNEY J. T. HENDRICK.

COLLAPSIBLE CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-10,1911.

1,287,307. Patented Dec. 10; 1918.

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JOHN T. HENDRICK, OF READY, KENTIICKY.

COLLAPSIBLE CRATE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 10, 1918.

Application filed August 10, 1917. Serial No. 185,512.

['0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN T. HnNonrcK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ready, in the county of Grayson and State of Kentucky, have invented new and'useful Improvements in Collapsible Crates, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to collapsible crates and aims to provide a crate which is capable of being easily and quickly folded in a compact form and which may be readily and easily set up in position for use.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of a crate having end walls pivoted to the top and bottom walls thereof in a manner to permit of their being swung into position between the top and bottom walls when the crate is set up for use, the end walls serving to hold the top and bottom walls properly spaced, so that the side walls may be moved in position therebet-ween to hold the crate against collapse.

The invention further provides a particular form of pivotal connection for the end walls. which connection includes toggle links which permit the said end walls to swing inwardly in their folded position carrying with them the toggle links so that no projecting surfaces remain after the crate has been folded. V

The invention therefore includes the following novel combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a crate constructed in accordance with the present invention and shown in position for use;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view through the crate;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation showing the crate partly collapsed;

Fig. 5 is an end view with the parts in the position shown in Fig. 4C; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the crate collapsed.

In the form of the invention illustrated, the crate includes a bottom wall 10, and has secured thereto upon its upper surface and along its side and end edges, strips 11 and 12 respectively.

The invention also includes a top wall 13, which is formed of a frame provided with transversely extending bars or slats of the form usually employed in shipping crates of this character.

The end walls of the crate which are designated by the reference characters 14 are pivotally connected to the top and bottom walls of the crate, the connection being made through the medium of links 15 and 16 which form a toggle joint, the link 15 having one end pivotally secured to the top wall 13 as shown at 17 and the link 16 having one end pivotally secured to the end wall 14: as shown at '18, while the opposite ends of these links are pivotally connected together through the medium of a pin 19. The point of connection 18 of the link 16 is approximately central of the transverse end of the end wall 14 and pivotally secured at this point, upon the same pivoted pin, is one end of a link 20, the opposite end of this link be ing pivotally secured to one end of the hot tom wall 10 as shown at 21.

This construction permits of the end walls 14 being swung upon the pivots 18 and moved inwardly, carrying with them the be fore mentioned links, so that in folding the crate, the said end walls will be disposed wholly between the top and bottom walls with the links lying within the ends of these walls. 7

For the purpose of limiting the movement of the upper edge of the end walls 14, there are provided angular corner flanges 22, which are secured to the corners of the top wall 13 and in addition to acting as stops for the end walls against movement in an outward direction, provide stops to prevent lateral movement of the end walls with respect to the crate, when the said end walls are in a set up position. These flanges also provide strengthening means at the corners of the crate and add considerably to the life of the same.

Hingedly secured to the strips 11 as shown at 23, are side walls 24, these walls and the end walls 14 being of the same construction as the top wall 13. The side walls 24 are so proportioned that when they are moved into position to set up the crate. they occupy the space between the top and bottom walls and the end walls.

In order toprovide for automatically moving the side walls after the adjustment of the end walls, there is secured to the bottom wall 1.0 adjacent each of the side walls, a.

spring element 25, which includes the coil spring 26 having one of its ends secured to the crate as shown at 27 and its opposite end 28 engaged with a U-shaped member 29, which latter member bears against the inner face of the side wall to normally force said wall into a raised position.

Secured to each of the side edges of the top wall 13 is a hook 30, which is adapted to engage the eye 31 positioned upon each of the side edges of the bottom wall-10, so that when the crate is collapsed it will be securely held in such position as shown in Fig. 6.

In order to collapse the crate, the side walls are forced inwardly against the action of the spring 26 and the end walls moved inwardly to a position as shown in Figs. a and 5, the end walls carrying with them the pivoted links. The top wall may be then pressed farther downward and the hooks secured within thecyes 31. In setting up the crate, these hooksare first removed and the top wall raised, the end walls being moved outward and swung upon the pivots 18 until they are properly positioned between the ends of the top and bottom walls. The side walls will then automatically move into their proper position under the influence of the springs 25. By providing the double link structure for connecting the end wallsto the top wall, the links will more readily fold to permit of the collapsing of the crate. They also permit of the top wall fitting snugly upon the end walls when the crate is collapsed, for if the end walls and top walls were connected by a single link a nice adjustment would be required to permit of the compact folding of theparts.

Copies'of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing 'the Having described the invention, what is claimed is:

'1. A collapsible crate embodying top, bottom, side and end walls, means for hingedly connecting the side walls to the bottom wall to permit the former to fold inwardly'upon the latter and links pivotally connecting the top and bottom walls to the end walls at a point intermediate the height of the latter to permit of the said end Walls assuming a parallel position between the top and bot-' tom walls at any point during the folding and setting up operation of the crate.

2. A collapsible crate embodying a top, bottom, side and end walls, means for hingedly connecting the side walls to the bottom wall in a. manner to permit the former to fold inwardly upon the latter, pairs of links having their adjacent ends pivotally connected together, one end of one link of each pair being pivotally connected to each end of the top wall and the opposite ends of the other link of each pair being pivotally connected with the end wall approximately central of the height of-said wall and a link having one end pivotally connected to each of the end walls upon-the pivotal connection of the firstmentioned links with said walls and the opposite end of each of the last mentioned links pivotally connected to the bottom wallpto permit of the end walls assuming a parallel ,po sition between thetop and bottom walls at any point during the folding and setting up operation of the crate.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

JOHN HENDRICK.

Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. G. 

